Really don't like dogs being in virtually every cafe now

[Wishididntseemsogrumpy]

I know another one, and yes this is quite trivial really.

Last week we went to a gorgeous new cafe, sat down, and within a minute I realised a large dog had appeared and was licking dds outstretched hand (she was delighted of course) then we had to get up and go and wash before eating, only to see the dog licking her hands again. Argh. Then it turned around and was wagging it's tail into me (I'm unfortunately allergic to fur and would rather not have to have fur on my clothes) - we werent even that close to the other table. It's just so annoying and I know I can ask it's owners to keep it away from us but seems a bit cruel to the dog and I jolly well shouldn't have to, they should be keeping an eye themselves without me having to have an awkward chat. Manners are meant to make everyone feel comfortable and not force people into seeming unreasonable because they don't want to get involved with the animal.

Then this afternoon, different cafe, on my own this time and got the fright of my life when all of a sudden a dog snarled and snapped at a child a few tables away, who of course screamed and was very distressed, someone could have had a heart attack!

I am going to have to be more mindful of places which don't have dogs in future I think.

And I imagine I am probably going to be told I am being unreasonable. I just want a coffee in peace without slobbering or snarling dogs

Bingo!

Given how packed out dog friendly places are I very much doubt it.

I’ve just been to a very popular NT cafe. The dog friendly part was stacked out with zero tables left. The non dog area was empty the whole time bar one table once.

Even if your dog is "well behaved" I don't want to see it eating, drinking and slobbering while I eat and drink. Even if it doesn't come anywhere near me or my food.

dont care 🤷‍♀️

What the hell?

It is pointless having a dog if you are just going to leave them at home all the time.
You may as well get a goldfish if you just want a pet to look at at home.

I dont want you to care, at all, why should you, it doesn't affect you or your dog. I really hope you have a nice time wherever you are. I am just saying I dont want to eat or drink in a place where there are dogs. You won't be adversely affected by my not being there!

Thanks

Respectfully, it is of zero importance to anyone other than you how much value your money you get from your dog.

You can still take it on walks. Why do you need to have it with you when you go to human places? Plenty of people don’t.

You shouldn’t have it if it howls when you leave it at home, yes.

The “solution” is not taking it with you. It’s training it shut up so it doesn’t bother your neighbours. It that’s not possible then you shouldn’t have it.

Thanks. I haven't seen any in the one in our town - to be honest, I don't see how they'd manage: it's very cramped indeed and there's a bottleneck between the entrance and the counter. Starbucks is much more spacious.

The café we went in is part of our walk. She would have a nap, and I would have tea and cake.
Utterly pointless for me to take her home, and go back on myself.
The café is very dog friendly anyway. They even offer a discount on certain days if you have a dog with you. I also loved having her with me.

I had her PTS in January this year, I am so grateful that I took her to the café with me rather than leave her at home. Every second with her was loved, and I miss her so much.

I'm on a train. There is a dog in the first class carriage!

Was this library in Inverness? It’s all going on in there!!!

I live in a village where just about everyone has a dog and the village cafe is usually full of them, and a few minutes' drive from a small market town where every single pub and cafe (and there are a lot) has a 'dog friendly' sticker in their window. Every one. (Actually, does Greggs allow dogs? There's a Greggs, it's a bit grim, I've never been in.) They were organised a few years ago by a dog owner who might have had a bit of an axe to grind, I'm not sure. None of the cafes apparently felt able to refuse.

We don't know how many customers have been put off going out for a drink at all because they're allergic, can't cope with dogs or have dog-related trauma, because obviously they stay away. I mean, most town cafes (as well as the pubs and the cafe in the village) are usually doing pretty well, and it's unusual to walk in to any of them and not see a dog. But I think not giving customers any choice at all is a mistake. My favourite town coffee place is a tiny indy place run by grumpy beardy blokes and scarcely has room to turn around, but it's not uncommon for there to be three dogs parked under tables and the counters. Often barking at one another.

I do like most dogs. I often meet lovely dogs in cafes and occasionally interact with them. I recently nearly had my latte swiped off the table by the tail of a delightful Bernese Mountain Dog (I think her owner, who knows her dog's the size of a house, should maybe exercise a bit more control.) My son who has ASD and can be tricky around dogs is a more challenging prospect and he can't cope with sudden barking beside him - we've turned around and exited a cafe smartly a few times because the dog count was too high.

I'd be SO grateful if just one local cafe said 'sorry, no dogs, there are loads of place to take them around here' but of course none of them will.

Not quite. I had to take my dog to John Lewis to try on a jumper for her because we on holiday and it was absolutely Baltic and she was struggling with the cold on walks. I had a gift voucher and I decided to get her a jumper with it. I took her with me to get the right size

Mowgli is dog friendly

It does very much seem in the past 10-20 years to have morphed from only ever seeing the old boy with his collie in a country pub, to every cafe having at least one labracockadoodledoo or wee yappy thing

I've lived in the same small village for 35+ years and that reflects my experience.
There has always been the occasional elderly resident in front of the fire in winter with his dog sprawled (in front of the fire, usually, so not in anyone's way)
Sometimes a local walking their dog might have popped in on their way by.
These are local people whose dogs are familiar to me, I see them when I'm out walking - without a dog because you don't have to have a dog to go for a walk.
In days gone by they usually weren't even on a lead because their owner ordered them to heel when they spotted another person. And the dogs came to heel with a friendly glance as they went by. The dogs get to know you just from that small interaction. And then if you walk into the pub they will look up from their snooze and do a little tail thump before settling down again. That's a time in the past that I actually didn't mind a dog in the pub at all because it didn't impact on me and that little tail thump was quite warming. Cafes and restaurants were no problem because it was just generally accepted by society at large that dogs have no place in either so nobody would have broken that unspoken social rule.
It was unthinkable 40 years ago to take a dog into a food establishment.

But now they're every fucking where and the dog worshipping world and his wife hate and vilify you if you just don't like dogs in your personal space, don't want them trying to be friends with you, don't think they're cute or lovable, and worst of all, don't want them jumping up on you while you're out walking.

I don't 'fucking hate dogs' I've had dogs myself as a child.
What I hate is owners who get pissed off with you if you ask them to get their dog away from you. Shouldn't have to ask. Owners who think it's ok to walk untrained dogs off lead. I don't want strange untrained dogs running towards me.
And people who take dogs into supermarkets and department stores, and the dogs shit on the floor because they're overwhelmed. A pp said they'd never known a dog shit or pee in a shop. It happens frequently. In a local garden centre the staff take turns in who gets to clean the crap up. It's a daily occurrence. All the dog owners will chip in and say it doesn't happen, but I know for sure it does.

Rant over.

My dog can’t be left alone. He was beaten, burnt and starved by his previous owners. Sorry I didn’t train his fear out of him

That's terrible, and really sad. But presumably you took on the responsibility.
My dd was born with profound LD and she has a fear of dogs that drives her to hysteria if one comes near, simply because she was bitten as a small child.
So I can't really take her anywhere there might be a dog. She has LD is non verbal and I can't reason with her. I did NOT sign up for that responsibility.

So who wins? Human or dog?

Whoever was there first.

Costa doesn't seem to allow dogs

Yes it does. Very big ones in my experience.

Surely you just take her places that don’t allow dogs?

Also have seen people use cafe tables as a place to change nappies which is disgusting

Of course it is and I'd be up in arms about that too. In fact in my local sports centre bar somebody whipped a potty out in open view of everyone so their toddler could wee or poo. Who knows which?

It's not one or the other. Both are unacceptable.

It is pointless having a dog if you are just going to leave them at home all the time

In the vanishing mists of time, people had dogs for working purposes. Or elderly folks who live alone, for company. Now the pandemic is over millions of families who got puppies to relieve the boredom of lockdown are left with pets they have no time for, and have to take them everywhere. That's what's happened.